Education Department Aligns ESEA with IDEA in Final Week of Biden Administration
Last week, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) published a document titled Building and Sustaining Inclusive Educational Practices Aligned with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to help educators at all levels better understand how these laws protect students with disabilities.
In short, the guidance explains that IDEA and ESEA share a common goal of enhancing academic achievement by promoting high expectations and quality education programs. ESEA pursues this goal by emphasizing rigorous state academic standards, accountability systems to assess student performance, support for educators, resources for comprehensive education, and evidence-based teaching practices. Meanwhile, IDEA complements these efforts by focusing on effective ways to support students with disabilities, both individually and within the frameworks established by ESEA.